I used to watch the world as if it was a performance and I would realize that certain things that people did moved me, and certain things didn't move me, and I tried to analyze, even at that age, six and seven and eight, why I was moved by certain things they did.

Arkin attended Bennington College in Vermont. The band members co-composed the group's 1956 hit "The Banana Boat Song" a reworking with some new lyrics of a traditional Jamaican calypso folk song of the same name combined with another titled "Hill and Gully Rider". Writing
Arkin is the author of many books including the children's stories Tony's Hard Work Day (illustrated by James Stevenson 1972) The Lemming Condition (illustrated by Joan Sandin 1976) Halfway Through the Door: An Actor's Journey Toward Self (1979) and The Clearing (1986 continuation of Lemming).

He is the father of actors Adam Arkin Anthony Arkin and Matthew Arkin. Alan Wolf Arkin (born March 26 1934) is an American actor director musician and singer.