My Life As a Ten Year-Old Boy [Hardcover]

Nancy Cartwright (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 25, 2000

Ay carumba! the voice behind Bart Simpson reveals the real story of America's funniest family

Nancy Cartwright is the ultimate Simpsons insider. Her raspy, childlike voice is immediately recognizable as none other than Bart Simpson the most precocious, irreverent, and intriguing ten-year-old ever to enter the American consciousness. In this behind-the-scenes story Nancy Cartwright tells of the Simpsons early days, when the cast was given a closet-sized space to record commercial bumpers for The Tracey Ullman Show. She traces the Simpsons rapid rise to wild popularity, offers hilarious anecdotes about cast members and guest stars including Mel Gibson, Meryl Streep, and Elizabeth Taylor and explains what goes into making the half-hour animated series. And she reveals what it's like to be at the center of an American institution, one that reinvented the sitcom, rocked the networks to the core, and changed forever the face of American television. Packed with more information than has ever been revealed about the longest-running animated show, here is the perfect book for the millions of Simpsons fans who can't get enough of Americas favorite dysfunctional family.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Cartwright is the voice of Bart Simpson, and in her enthusiastic, candid memoir, she delivers an inside view of the show that has become such a cultural phenomenon. An introductory chapter breezes over Cartwright's early fascination with voice work; her education and serendipitous mentor-student relationship with Daws Butler, the voice of Yogi Bear; and her early career as a cartoon voice actor, including stints on My Little Pony and Friends. But she devotes the majority of the book to giving fans what they really want--the who, what, when, where, and how behind each episode of The Simpsons. Included are the show's creation story and plenty of long anecdotes about the guest stars (the Elizabeth Taylor piece is excellent), along with Cartwright's own experiences with her strangely anonymous brand of celebrity and her advice for people interested in the business. Cartwright refers to her own "overly ebullient nature," and the book's voice is relentlessly cheerful, almost giggly, with constant asides such as, "I'm suuure! Ohmygod!" and exclamations about brushes with fame: Tom Jones "was such a total stud!" But in between the giddiness, she throws in enough hard facts and industry gossip to appease even the most jaded Simpsons fan. A hilarious must-read for the show's cult following and for media students. Gillian Engberg
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Review

...Cartwright has an assured, chatty voice... making [it] the perfect book for the Simpsons fan who has it all -- Woodland Hills Daily News, October 31, 2000

...We do find out how many spikes he has on his mischevous little head -- People, December 18, 2000

Bart owes his irreverence largely to... Cartwright... [who] shows just the proper amount of respect for all things show biz. -- Review Magazines, November 15, 2000

Cartwright gives... fun details on... guest stars, how the sound effects are done, the animation... [and] the show's early days -- Dayton News, October 29, 2000

The book describes her career, how the show is made and the dozens of celebrities who have been guests... -- Associated Press, October 30, 2000

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 288 pages
• Publisher: Hyperion; 1st edition (October 25, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0786866969
• ISBN-13: 978-0786866960
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.8 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (31 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,566,846 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

36 of 37 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fun and Informative - A MUST for every Simpsons fan, November 1, 2000

By 

njbookworm (New Jersey) - See all my reviews

This review is from: My Life As a Ten Year-Old Boy (Hardcover)

I should preface this by saying that I am a Simpsons fanactic. Because of the wonders of digital cable, I am able to watch the show -- 3 episodes worth -- every afternoon as I'm making dinner. To date, it's the only show on television that makes me laugh until I snort.

Now that I've painted that beautiful picture, let me get to the book...

I was pleasantly surprised by this book and by Nancy Cartwright, the author. She did a great job of mixing the obscure, behind-the-scenes stuff that fans (like me)love with a pleasant grouping of autobiographical sketches and personal photos. I hadn't known that Nancy had such a wide-range of voice experience!

Truly, though, it was the "Behind the Simpsons" stuff that sold me. I thoroughly enjoyed about how the show began, what the performers are really like, and how time consuming/complicated it is to put together a 24-minute episode. Also, it was great when Nancy would reference different scenes/anecdotes from the episodes. I felt like such a Simpsons insider, especially when I was able to say, "I saw that!" or "I remember that!"

A final note: Make sure to look on the lower, right-hand corner of the last hundred or so pages in the book. By flipping quickly through the pages (think "flip book"), you can see an adorable animated short featuring Nancy and her alter ego, Bart Simpson. So cute!

Make sure to give this to every Simpsons fan on your holiday gift list. They will definitely appreciate it.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Ode to The Simpsons, October 3, 2004

By 

Bennet Pomerantz "Bennet Pomerantz, AUDIOWORLD" (College Park, Maryland) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: My Life As A 10-Year-Old Boy (Audio Cassette)

Having read Nancy Cartwright's book, My Life As A Ten Year Old Boy (5 cds, 6 hours, unabridged) which was not a great book or a great tell all. On the printed page, the book was slow and boring. So, I was very leary of an audio version. Well, I was wrong...The audio version sparkles.

Cartwright seems to do a one woman show in narrating her book. Okay, she doesn't fully get her co-stars voice patterns (like Julie Kavner's Marge or the late great Phil Hartman) perfect, but you will know who she is talking about. She is a masterful talent behind a mic, which makes this insiders version of the Simpson family rock.

So, DONT HAVE A COW, MAN over some of her crazy vocal detours Nancy tries. Cartwright's tell all is NOT an audio copy of Nimoy's I am NOT Spock. She is happy in the skin of Bart and it shows. What impresses me more is her humble beginning and her excitement in this reading. It overwhelms the listener. For most Overwhelming is bad, for this it is VERY good. Cartwright is a fan along with all of us ! She still had the awe with the rest of us!

So If you a Simpson fan, Animation fan, Love Saturday Morning Cartoons (or Cartton Network) or a fan of a life in Hollywood stories... this no nonsense, humorous recanting on the history of a cartoon series is great fun...and if you don't like this audio...well to quote Bart Simpson, in his immortal words, "EAT MY SHORTS!"--Bennet Pomerantz, AUDIOWORLD

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I will read this book. I will read this book. I will..., January 8, 2001

By 

Robert M. Bitto (Phoenix, AZ United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: My Life As a Ten Year-Old Boy (Hardcover)

I have been the coordinator of Mensa's special interest group devoted to "The Simpsons" for many years now and when a fellow member of the group had an opportunity to go to a book signing for Nancy Cartwright's "My Life as a 10-Year-Old Boy" I asked him if he could meet the author for me and get me an autographed copy of the book. When I received the book I began reading in earnest and I could not put it down.

Nancy Cartwright delights fans and non-fans of "The Simpsons" with her first book, "My Life as a 10-Year-Old Boy." Her book goes beyond a traditional autobiography and takes an interesting look at the inner workings of one of America's most beloved television series. Cartwright's cozy writing style makes readers feel like they are getting a 12-year personal backstage tour of the show. As an original and integral castmember, Cartwright deserves attention; the book is a must for those interested in what goes on behind the scenes of the show. Nancy (after reading the book readers feel like they should be on a first-name basis with the writer)also shares her own personal and professional development with regard to her voice career. This amply satisfies the curiosity of anyone who has ever asked the question,"how does someone get a really cool job like that?" Interactions with guest stars, details about production and the author's personal reflections on people and events connected with the show serve to provide readers with a unique perspective of one of the most popular TV shows of all time. In short, Nancy Cartwright's book, "My Life as a 10-Year-Old Boy" is an interesting and fascinating read. I would definitely recommend it.