diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d2fd46a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/README.md
@@ -0,0 +1,30 @@
+# skeam
+
+Skeam is a primitive
+[Lisp](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lisp_(programming_language\)) interpreter.
+I wrote this out of a curiosity to learn about the basics of writing
+interpreters; it's not something that I'd recommend using, but it may be
+helpful to look at if you're interested in writing your own.  The name comes
+from [Scheme](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scheme_(programming_language\)) and
+[Skream](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skream).
+
+Skeam does not implement [tail-call](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tail_call)
+elimination or [continuations](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Continuation), so
+it's not technically a Scheme implementation.
+
+The `input.scm` file gives an example of what is currently understood by the interpreter.
+
+## installing skeam
+
+First make sure you have Go1, the current version of the Go programming
+language.  If you don't have it, you can download it
+[here](http://golang.org/doc/install).
+
+Skeam is go-gettable, so installation only requires the following command:  `go
+install github.com/jordanorelli/skeam`.  Make sure your `$GOBIN` is included in
+your environment's `$PATH`.  E.g., on Mac OS X, this generally means adding
+`export PATH=$PATH:/usr/local/go/bin` to your `.bashrc`.
+
+Once installed, you can access the Skeam REPL by simply running the command
+`skeam`.  To execute a Skeam file, pass the filename as a parameter to the
+`skeam` command.  E.g., `skeam input.scm` would run the `input.scm` file.
diff --git a/input.scm b/input.scm
index 5b2f2fd..ef56f19 100644
--- a/input.scm
+++ b/input.scm
@@ -95,3 +95,28 @@ x
 (counter)
 (counter)
 (counter)
+
+; ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+; norving examples
+; ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+(define area (lambda (r) (* 3.141592653 (* r r))))
+(area 3)
+
+; <= isn't defined yet
+; (define fact (lambda (n) (if (<= n 1) 1 (* n (fact (- n 1))))))
+; (fact 10)
+
+; this one is an overflow error :(
+; (fact 100)
+
+; (area (fact 10))
+
+; (define first car)
+; (define rest cdr)
+; (define count
+;   (lambda (item L)
+;     (if L (+ (equal? item (first L)) (count item (rest L)))
+;       0)))
+; (count 0 (list 0 1 2 3 0 0))
+; (count (quote the) (quote (the more the merrier the bigger the better)))