diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 3027a83e60..d1b0fe8bee 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -5,12 +5,23 @@
 
 <br clear='all'/>
 
-*Noms* is a content-addressed, immutable, decentralized, strongly-typed database.
-
-In other words, Noms is Git for data.
+*Noms* is a decentralized database based on ideas from Git.
 
 This repository contains two reference implementations of the database—one in Go, and one in JavaScript. It also includes a number of tools and sample applications.
 
+## About Noms
+
+Noms is different from other databases. It is:
+
+* *Content-addressed*. If you have some data you want to put into Noms, you don't have to worry about whether it already exists. Duplicate data is automatically ignored. There is no update, only insert.
+
+* *Append-only*. When you commit data to Noms, you aren't overwriting anything. Instead you're adding to a historical record. By default, data is never removed from Noms. You can see the entire history of the database, diff any two commits, or rewind to any previous point in time.
+
+* *Strongly-typed*. Noms doesn't have schemas that you design up front. Instead, each version of a Noms database has a *type*, which is generated automatically as you add data. You can write code against the type of a Noms database, confident that you've handled all the cases you need to.
+
+* *Decentralized*. Every instance of the database is a peer. If I give you a copy of my database, you and I can modify our copies disconnected from each other, and come back together and merge our changes efficiently and correctly days, weeks, or years later.
+
+- *Incomplete*. This is a beta software. Major features like queries, concurrency, and GC are not yet implemented.
 
 ## Setup
 
@@ -28,7 +39,7 @@ noms log http://demo.noms.io/cli-tour::sf-film-locations
 [Command-Line Tour](doc/cli-tour.md)&nbsp; | &nbsp;[Go SDK Tour](doc/go-tour.md)&nbsp; | &nbsp;[JavaScript SDK Tour](doc/js-tour.md)&nbsp; | &nbsp;[Intro to Noms](doc/intro.md)
 
 <br/>
-## What Is Noms Good For?
+## What Noms is Good For
 
 #### Data Version Control
 
@@ -53,14 +64,6 @@ Trivially import snapshots from any format or API. Data is automatically version
 *TODO: Sample and video*
 
 
-#### More!
-
-On our better days, we think of a decentralized, synchronizing database like Noms as an important new primitive in an increasing distributed computing environment. And we imagine many fascinating ways it could be used.
-
-But we must crawl before we run. Right now, we are putting the basics in place: Efficient updates and range scans. Efficient diff and sync. Data integrity.
-
-[Let us know](https://groups.google.com/forum/#!forum/nomsdb) what ideas you have for Noms, or better yet [help us](TODO - help) build them.
-
 <br>
 ## Status