In a world where instant responses are the norm and busyness is often worn as a badge of honor, a new book is making the case for a quieter, more deliberate approach to time. Alex Snider, a former government strategist, speaker, and meditation teacher, argues that our default state of urgency is not only exhausting but also harmful to our relationships and our sense of self. 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), invites readers to question the pace at which they live and to consciously choose how they move through time.
Snider draws on more than 15 years in high-pressure federal environments, alongside contemplative practice, psychology, and leadership, to explore the origins of our modern concepts of 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 without rejecting ambition or efficiency. “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,” says Snider.
The book is not an argument for opting out or relaxing, Snider insists. 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 says. The problem arises when urgency becomes our default rather than a deliberate response. “When urgency starts overriding our values,” notes Snider, “we lose access to patience, perspective, compassion, and connection.”
The implications of this message are significant. In a society that often equates productivity with self-worth, Snider’s book offers a counter-narrative: that slowing down can be a radical act of self-preservation and a way to reconnect with what truly matters. The book’s endorsements from prominent authors underscore its relevance. Daniel H. Pink, #1 New York Times bestselling author of “The Power of Regret” and “When,” writes, “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 is shaped by his own life experiences, including a life-altering bike accident that reshaped his view on urgency and attention. He is a meditation teacher and co-founder of Mindful Fed, and he holds degrees from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service. His book blends research, stories, and practical reframes to help readers explore the kind of relationship they want to have with time and those they navigate it with.
The book, available at Amazon.com, Bookshop.org, and BN.com, challenges the idea that speed brings us closer to the kind of person we want to be. Instead, it suggests that by consciously choosing our pace, we can create space for intention, connection, and humanity. As Snider puts it, “Slowing down creates the space to reconnect with what matters most: our values, our relationships, and our humanity.”
