An Improvised Life
A Memoir

This is subtitled “a memoir” but it offers as much of Arkin’s musings about his craft as it provides about the arc of his life. I was very satisfied with the extra dimension provided by listening to the author read his book. Arkin sets out his thesis very early by means of this excellent anecdote: “S......more

This is a memoir about Alan Arkin's life in art. He tells nothing about his personal life unless it is directly related to his growth as an actor, director, writer and teacher. This lack of personal meandering and of casual name dropping brings refreshing intensity into the narrative. I listened to......more

I guess this is actually ★★★ 1\2. I listened to this book and who could read it better than Alan Arkin himself? No one I'm thinking. Partly memoir, partly teaching platform. At some point, after undergoing psychoanalysis, Arkin started doing improv/acting seminars. There were several moving tales he......more

I cannot say enough good about this book. The honest and extremely well told account of a man who has grown and learned and changed over an extraordinary lifetime. As an improviser/actor this book is invaluable. But even for a person who has never stepped on a stage, I believe it is an amazing read.......more