An Improvised Life

A Memoir

By: Alan Arkin

Narrated by: Alan Arkin

Length: 4 hrs and 14 mins

Publisher's summary

In this insightful memoir, Oscar-winning actor Alan Arkin reflects back on finding his place as an actor and what theater—specifically the improvisational sort—has taught him about the craft and life.

Alan Arkin knew he was going to be an actor from the age of five. From this early age, he recognized that “every film I saw, every play, every piece of music fed an unquenchable need to turn myself into something other than what I was.”

An Improvised Life is Arkin’s wise and unpretentious recollection of the process, artistic and personal, of becoming an actor and a revealing look into the creative mind of one of the best practitioners on the stage and screen. Arkin, in a manner that is direct, down-to-earth, accessible, and articulate, reveals not just insights about himself but truths for the rest of us about our sense of self, our work, and our relationships with others.

©2011 Alan Arkin (P)2011 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

“[A] wealth of wisdom.” ( New York Post)

Puts it like it is.

An excellent prospective, I think I would feel the same way about many of his views.

Wasn’t for me

After Mr. Arkin’s passing I chose this title. Thought there might be little nuggets on living life. Unfortunately, I wasn’t the target audience.

Serpintine! Listen to this book .

i truly enjoyed this audiobook because I am huge Alan Arkin fan and it was just nice to hear about his background and begining to his tips on improvising. great book and I can't recommend it enough .

Interesting

Never really considered myself an Alan Arkin fan, but he does have some appeal as an actor. The book is more than just an autobiography, and while it’s not a guide to acting, it does provide some insight in how to become better, at acting and life.

the other is better

it is very good, enjoyable, I listened it through in a few days. the stories he tells are very straightforward, easy to follow. I'm 36, a younger me would find it boring, probably.

I gained insight & Understanding into Alan Arkin! I loved this!

I gained insight & Understanding into Alan Arkin! I loved this!
I really appreciated learning, and discovering what drove Alan throughout his life’s journey. I enjoyed the whole book. The trainings that he had his wife gave were amazing! I wish I had been able to attend one. They were so meaningful for everyone attended them.
I’m sure the struggles of a career in acting, well remain and trying to support his children.

Actor shares his experiences of self-discovery

I like Alan Arkin. Of the movies and other performances I’ve seen him in I enjoy his dry delivery and sense of humor. However several hours of just him speaking even in small intervals it’s not something I really enjoyed that much.

His story is interesting and I appreciate him delving into his background as well as his journey of self discovery. I think it was very intriguing to learn more about his acting career and how it influenced his search for meaning and understanding. Many people who are successful have no interest in going down this path. However he was and was willing to share it. So that was my most enjoyable part of listening to this audible recording.

However, his delivery is monotone. You know that going into listening to it, and yet it did get in the way of him telling his story. This is particularly true when he delivers so many run-on sentences and his inflections don’t match what he’s actually reading or speaking about. I’m somewhat surprised that he didn’t self critique, or have his wife or somebody listen to the recording before it was approved. I would’ve given the performance higher marks understanding who was speaking. I know his delivery style, but this is frankly very distracting and somewhat ironic considering various points of the book he is very critical of various people and things that seem to be either somewhat inconsequential. Here’s something that’s consequential. It’s him, it has his name on it, it’s his story, and yet this was his way of delivering on that. It’s underwhelming and and somewhat disappointing to hear his final work product.

A deeply honest actor and human being

I highly recommend this to anyone who is a fan of Alan Arjun’s acting. He delves into that in a very compelling way. What a delight though, to find out what a brilliant and compassionate man he was.

Excellent listen

As in all stories of a person's journey, this book reminds us that being present in all life circumstances is our antidote. Too often, we fall victim to our finely curated ideal of self without allowing for the growth of the moment to substantiate a real place. I usually think of a pithy charming retort instead of listening and allowing my true feelings to dictate my truth.

Thank you, Mr. Arkin, for your work on screen and the work in you as a man.

Alan Arlin’s 1st Memoir

If you like Alan Atkin, or are at all interested in the craft of acting, or are interested in a fine actor’s philosophy of life, then I recommend this book. If you want an autobiography of Alan Atkin, recounting his acting career after he became famous, then this is not the book you want. Atkin does recount in detail his path to success, but he seems uninterested in discussing any of his movies, his experiences with other famous actors and directors, and certainly not life in Hollywood. Nevertheless, I very much enjoyed the book, particularly Arlin’s evolving philosophy, and its connection to his vocation. Too much about his acting workshops though.