diff --git a/docs.md b/docs.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..004ca12
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs.md
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+# ziglua Documentation
+
+*To avoid a duplication of efforts, ziglua does not contain full documentation on the Lua C API. Please refer to [the Lua C API Documentation](https://www.lua.org/manual/5.4/manual.html#4) for full details.*
+
+This documentation provides
+
+* An overview of ziglua's structure
+* Safety considerations
+* API exceptions
+* Example code
diff --git a/readme.md b/readme.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6cbc13c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/readme.md
@@ -0,0 +1,64 @@
+# ziglua
+
+A Zig library that provides a lightweight wrapper around the [Lua C API](https://www.lua.org/manual/5.4/manual.html#4) to embed the Lua virtual machine into your Zig programs. Currently tracks the latest Lua version (5.4.4).
+
+## Why use ziglua?
+
+In a nutshell, ziglua is a simple wrapper around the C API you would get by using `@cImport()` to bind Lua. ziglua aims to mirror the [Lua C API](https://www.lua.org/manual/5.4/manual.html#4) as closely as possible, while improving ergonomics using Zig's features. For example:
+
+* Type-checked enums for parameters and return values
+* Compiler-enforced checking of optional pointers
+* Functions return `bool` rather than `int` to indicate success
+
+While there are a few helper functions added to complement the C API, luazig aims to remain low-level. If you want something higher-level, perhaps try [zoltan](https://github.com/ranciere/zoltan).
+
+## Getting Started
+
+Adding ziglua to your project is easy. First add this repo as a git submodule, or copy the source into your repo. Then add the following to your `build.zig` file (assuming cloned/copied into a `lib/` subdirectory):
+
+```zig
+const ziglua = @import("lib/ziglua/build.zig");
+
+pub fn build(b: *Builder) void {
+    ...
+    exe.addPackagePath("ziglua", "lib/ziglua/src/ziglua.zig");
+    ziglua.link(b, exe);
+}
+```
+
+This will compile the Lua C sources and statically link with your project. Then simply import the ziglua package into your code! Here is a simple example that pushes and inspects an integer on the Lua stack:
+
+```zig
+const std = @import("std");
+const ziglua = @import("ziglua");
+
+const Lua = ziglua.Lua;
+
+pub fn main() anyerror!void {
+    var gpa = std.heap.GeneralPurposeAllocator(.{}){};
+    const allocator = gpa.allocator();
+    defer _ = gpa.deinit();
+
+    var lua = try Lua.init(allocator);
+    defer lua.deinit();
+
+    lua.pushInteger(42);
+    std.debug.print("{}\n", .{lua.toInteger(1)});
+}
+```
+
+See [docs.md](https://github.com/natecraddock/ziglua/blob/master/docs.md) for documentation and detailed examples of using ziglua.
+
+## Status
+
+Currently adding functions, types, and constants as fast as possible. Current API coverage: **90/268 (33.6%)**.
+
+## Acknowledgements
+
+Thanks to the following sources:
+
+* [zoltan](https://github.com/ranciere/zoltan) for insights into compiling Lua with Zig
+* [zig-autolua](https://github.com/daurnimator/zig-autolua) for help on writing an alloc function
+* [mach-glfw](https://github.com/hexops/mach-glfw) for inspiration on a clean `build.zig`
+
+And finally [Lua](https://lua.org). Thank you to the Lua team for providing a great language!