In a world dominated by nonstop notifications, packed schedules, and the pressure to respond instantly, former government strategist and meditation teacher Alex Snider challenges the culture of chronic urgency in his debut book, "Sometimes You Should Be Late: The Quiet Rebellion of Slowing Down in a World Obsessed With Speed" (Practical Inspiration Publishing, July 7, 2026).
Snider, who spent over 15 years in high-pressure government environments, draws on contemplative practice, psychology, leadership, and everyday human experience to explore the origins of modern punctuality and lateness. He introduces concepts such as "authentic lateness," "time alchemy," and "standing behind your own clock," offering readers new ways to approach time—not by rejecting ambition or efficiency, but by creating space to be intentional about attention and energy.
"This book is inviting you—nay, imploring you—to notice when speed has pulled you away from your values, to feel what being in a constant rush does to our relationships, to lift the blinders that trick you into thinking you don't have options, and to consciously choose how to move through time," Snider says.
However, Snider insists this isn't a book about relaxing or opting out. He acknowledges that speed can be useful, necessary, and even an act of care. "Both our speedy rabbit energy and our inner slower sloth have their places," he notes, emphasizing that speed becomes a problem when it becomes our default rather than a deliberate response. "When urgency starts overriding our values, we lose access to patience, perspective, compassion, and connection."
The book has garnered praise from notable authors. Daniel H. Pink, #1 New York Times bestselling author of "The Power of Regret" and "When," says, "This book reminds us that time's real value lies in the human moments we refuse to rush." Jamie Metzl, bestselling author of "Superconvergence" and "The AI Ten Commandments," adds, "'Sometimes You Should Be Late' shows why slowing down in the right contexts isn't an obstacle to progress, but a prerequisite for it."
Snider's perspective was shaped by a life-altering bike accident that reshaped his view on urgency and attention. As a meditation teacher and co-founder of Mindful Fed, he explores what modern busyness gives us and what it quietly takes away. The book is available at Amazon.com, Bookshop.org, and BN.com.
Ultimately, "Sometimes You Should Be Late" offers a new way to think about time—not as something to constantly manage, optimize, or outrun, but as something to experience with greater awareness and intention. In a world that rewards rushing, Snider reminds us that slowing down creates the space to reconnect with what matters most: our values, our relationships, and our humanity.
