In an era defined by relentless notifications and the pressure to respond instantly, former government strategist and meditation teacher Alex Snider presents a counterintuitive solution: sometimes you should be late. His new book, Sometimes You Should Be Late: The Quiet Rebellion of Slowing Down in a World Obsessed With Speed (Practical Inspiration Publishing, July 7, 2026), challenges the pervasive culture of chronic urgency and invites readers to consciously choose their own pace.
Snider, who spent over 15 years in high-pressure federal environments, argues that speed becomes problematic when it becomes the default response rather than a deliberate choice. '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,' he says.
The book draws on contemplative practice, psychology, and leadership research to explore the origins of punctuality and lateness. Snider introduces concepts such as 'authentic lateness,' 'time alchemy,' and 'standing behind your own clock,' offering readers new frameworks for relating to time. However, he insists this isn't a call to abandon ambition or efficiency. 'Both our speedy rabbit energy and our inner slower sloth have their places,' he notes. 'When urgency starts overriding our values, we lose access to patience, perspective, compassion, and connection.'
Snider's personal journey includes a life-altering bike accident that reshaped his perspective on urgency and attention. He now co-founded Mindful Fed, a community for mindfulness in government, and teaches meditation. His book has garnered early praise from notable authors. Daniel H. Pink, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Power of Regret and When, said: '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, added: 'Sometimes You Should Be Late shows why slowing down in the right contexts isn't an obstacle to progress, but a prerequisite for it.'
In a world that rewards rushing, Snider's work offers a reminder that slowing down creates space to reconnect with what matters most: values, relationships, and humanity. The book is available at major retailers including Amazon.com, Bookshop.org, and BN.com. For more information, visit alexsnider.onlinepresskit247.com.
