diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..95f9b6b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/README.md
@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+# .files
+
+<img align="right" width="200px" text="im a ninja!" alt="dotfile all the things!" src="https://camo.githubusercontent.com/b5d1fce147445b2e54412caa5a2d86fc98a85fbb/68747470733a2f2f6f63746f6465782e6769746875622e636f6d2f696d616765732f646f6a6f6361742e6a7067" />
+
+This is a collection of my personal configuration files for *nix and OS X operating systems.
+
+I'm using [homeshick](https://github.com/andsens/homeshick) to manage them.
+
+Have a look at the [bootstrapping script](bootstrap.sh) to get started!
+
+#### Author
+
+Steffen Vogel <post@steffenvogel.de>
+
+#### License
+
+Public Domain