diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index f65cb3c628b6f046e6cfe893e1647a8a47655714..a360b04fc2865f9b52e0ea15a0fff6decccacd5b 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -97,37 +97,30 @@ Quick compilation instructions
 ------------------------------
 
 Extensive installation instructions are in the [user documentation](http://www.plumed.org/documentation).
-Configure for your system
+Quick instructions:
 
     ./configure --prefix=$HOME/opt
-    
-    
-If necessary, edit `Makefile.conf`. 
-Configure your environment
-
-    source ./sourceme.sh
-    
-Compile plumed
-
     make
-    
-The `plumed` executable should be now in your execution path
-
-    plumed help
-    
-Compile the manuals.
-
-    make doc
+    make doc # optional
 
 User documentation can be found at `user-doc/html/index.html`.
 Developer documentation can be found at `developer-doc/html/index.html`.
 [Pre-compiled documentation](http://www.plumed.org/documentation) is available online, so this is only required
 if you are working with a modified version of the code!
 
-Install PLUMED in `$HOME/opt` (directory should be set during `./configure`):
+In order to run PLUMED without installing it you should type `source sourceme.sh`. However,
+we recomment installing PLUMED. 
+To install it in `$HOME/opt` (directory should be set during `./configure`):
 
     umask 022
     make install
     
+Now you will be able to run plumed using e.g.
+
+    plumed help
+
+If you compiled your own documentation, paths to the installed documentation can be found with command `plumed info --user-doc`.
+
 A sample modulefile with environment variable will be placed in
-`$HOME/opt/lib/plumed/src/lib/modulefile`. If you compiled your own documentation, paths to the installed documentation can be found with command `plumed info --user-doc`.
+`$HOME/opt/lib/plumed/src/lib/modulefile`. This can be useful if you want to
+install multiple PLUMED versions side by side and select them with env modules.