Sometimes You Should Be Late
a book about choosing how we move through time
Being late can feel awful...but rushing can, too. It's the dilemma of urgency culture. Sometimes You Should Be Late offers a way out. Not by becoming a sloth, cute as they are. Nor through 'five easy steps' to optimize your morning routine. Instead this book will help you decide who you want to be even (and especially) when time feels tight.
Out July 7: Preorder Now
"This book reminds us that time’s real value lies in the human moments we refuse to rush.”
— Daniel H. Pink, #1 New York Times bestselling author
"A must-read for anyone who wants to feel less rushed and more present."
— Anne-Laure Le Cunff, Neuroscientist and author of Tiny Experiments
"Alex Snider shows how a healthier relationship with time can help us live richer, more meaningful lives."
— Carl Honoré, Author of In Praise of Slowness
How do you relate to time?
Are you a Buffer Builder who creates calm through extra margin? A Productive Juggler who gets an impressive amount done? A Relational Adjuster who prioritizes people over schedules? Or a Hopeful Optimizer who trusts that things will work out?
Take the quiz and find outSign up for updates and bonus content:
Read more praise
"If you get agitated while waiting, blame traffic for your tardiness, or can't stomach the idea of slowing down, this book is for you...This insightful meditation on time is ultimately a call to be more compassionate toward others and ourselves-and to stay attuned to our values more than the clock.”- Rhaina Cohen, Bestselling author of The Other Significant Others
“Sometimes You Should Be Late is a timely reminder that racing the clock is a fool’s errand. With fresh insight and practical wisdom, Alex Snider shows how a healthier relationship with time can help us live richer, more meaningful lives.” - Carl Honoré, author of In Praise of Slowness
“Sometimes You Should Be Late shows why slowing down in the right contexts isn’t an obstacle to progress, but a prerequisite for it. So sit down on your proverbial porch, take a few deep breaths, and (slowly) savor this book. - Jamie Metzl, bestselling author of Superconvergence and The AI Ten Commandments
“In a world that’s increasingly hectic, where timeliness, productivity, doing, and success are the bottom lines, we need books that remind us that being on Planet Earth isn’t all about accomplishing but is about engaging in life. Thank you, Alex, for this beautiful reminder.” - Diana Winston, author of Fully Present: The Science, Art, and Practice of Mindfulness [from the foreword]
"I hate to be late. My beloved is really easy about being late. Shamelessly so. Happily, I am learning from her. This book can teach you to chill and be at ease too!" - Jack Kornfield PhD author of The Wise Heart
Sometimes You Should Be Late is refreshing and blunt without ever being preachy. If, like me, your first instinct is that it’s not aimed at you, that’s probably a sign that it’s aimed at you. - David Graham, New York Times Bestselling author of The Project
“I just finished a book about checklists hoping it would have a modicum of usefulness, but it didn’t. This book, by comparison, is a massively helpful and instructive guidebook that doesn't just offer techniques but helps us see our habits and choices more clearly.” - Robert Shea, former associate director Office of Management and Budget, CEO GovNavigators
“Confession: I don’t think it’s OK to be late. But I think this is absolutely the right challenge - to live intentionally. To focus on relationships. To understand that urgent times call for calm, not pace. If we all moved a bit in the direction Snider is pushing us, I have no doubt we would not just be happier; not just more ‘effective’; but also that the world would be a better place.” - Dan Honig, author of Mission Driven Bureaucrats: Empowering People to Help Government Do Better
"In organizations driven by speed and constant urgency, Sometimes You Should Be Late helps leaders rethink time not as something to optimize or hack but to spend better—so they can make better decisions, build stronger relationships, and lead with greater impact. It's a practical antidote to urgency culture and a better way to show up that our world and workplaces need now more than ever." - Jeanette Bronée, Author of The Self-Care Mindset
What the book explores
We live in a culture that treats speed as virtue. Many of us move through our days with a sense of being behind: on emails, text threads, deadlines, relationships, and more.
Sometimes You Should Be Late challenges the idea that speed brings us closer to the kind of person we want to be. Blending research, stories, and practical reframes, the book helps you explore the kind of relationship you want to have with time and those you navigate it with.
It doesn't just talk about it in general, but offers ways to bring these ideas into relationships, work, family, school, and friendships.
This book won't tell you when you should be late, but walk you through the process of deciding for yourself.
Continue the conversation
Book Club Guide (coming soon)
Late Quiz (coming soon)
Pay what you can
If these ideas inspire you and you can't afford the full price, I would be happy to send you a free digital version. Answer a couple questions and you'll get a copy in your inbox! (coming soon)
Attend a book tour event
I'll be touring the US in 2026 for book reading events. Check out my events page for tour dates.
