Geico's Gecko Writes a Book About the Human Condition Martin Agency helps lizard organize his thoughts By Tim Nudd

He's renowned for his 30-second bites of wisdom. Now, Geico's gecko is getting ready to expand upon his reptilian thoughts about the human condition in a new book, You're Only Human, co-written by The Martin Agency and coming in April from Workman Publishing. From the publisher's site:

You know him and love him as one of the most famous characters on television, that humble, hardworking spokeslizard with the fetching accent. Turns out there's so much more to him. He's a philosopher, an aphorist, a humorist, an artist, a warm companion, a natural storyteller—and, in a grand tradition, a keenly observant and wise outsider who in the course of living and traveling among us has discovered quite a lot about the things that make us human. Figuratively speaking, of course.You're Only Human is his brilliant take on people, written and illustrated with considerable charm.

He makes curious and interesting observations on everything from dreams to job interviews to adversity, Twitter to the Golden Rule (it's not what you think it is) to talking animals: I'm really not sure what all the fuss is about. Lots of animals talk, including humans. The bigger question is, What do you have to say worth listening to?

Martin's Dean Jarrett tells AdFreak that Workman approached the Richmond, Va., agency with the idea, and the agency and client soon fell in love with it. "The gecko probably hasn't really been able to say all he could say in 30-second TV commercials, so what else would he say?" Jarrett says. "It will be funny thoughts about life from the gecko, all in his great tone that we've come to know and love. We hope people will find it charming and funny and connect with it. And we hope to sell a couple gazillion of them."