diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 484ca7386..c1bf36e80 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -1,8 +1,12 @@
-# Atom — The hackable editor
+# Atom — A hackable text editor for the 21st Century
 
 ![Atom](http://i.imgur.com/OrTvUAD.png)
 
-Check out our [guides and API documentation](https://atom.io/docs/latest).
+Atom is an open source text editor built on top of
+[atom-shell](http://github.com/atom/atom-shell). It's designed to be
+customizable, but also usable without needing to edit a config file. Atom is
+modern, approachable, and hackable to the core. Visit [atom.io](http://atom.io)
+to learn more.
 
 ## Installing
 
@@ -12,6 +16,11 @@ Atom will automatically update when a new release is available.
 
 ## Building
 
-Follow the instructions in the [build docs][building].
+```
+git clone git@github.com:atom/atom.git
+cd atom
+script/build # Creates application at /Applications/Atom.app
+```
 
-[building]: https://github.com/atom/atom/blob/master/docs/building-atom.md
+## Developing
+Check out the [guides](https://atom.io/docs/latest) and the [API reference](atom.io/docs/api).