diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index c94c3eea26..654aa27b49 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -24,6 +24,8 @@
 - [Sponsors](#sponsors)
 - [Support](#support) ([documentation](https://json.nlohmann.me), [FAQ](https://json.nlohmann.me/home/faq/), [discussions](https://github.com/nlohmann/json/discussions), [API](https://json.nlohmann.me/api/basic_json/), [bug issues](https://github.com/nlohmann/json/issues))
 - [Examples](#examples)
+  - [Read JSON from a file](#read-json-from-a-file)
+  - [Creating `json` objects from JSON literals](#creating-json-objects-from-json-literals)
   - [JSON as first-class data type](#json-as-first-class-data-type)
   - [Serialization / Deserialization](#serialization--deserialization)
   - [STL-like access](#stl-like-access)
@@ -98,7 +100,66 @@ There is also a [**docset**](https://github.com/Kapeli/Dash-User-Contributions/t
 
 ## Examples
 
-Beside the examples below, you may want to check the [documentation](https://json.nlohmann.me/) where each function contains a separate code example (e.g., check out [`emplace()`](https://json.nlohmann.me/api/basic_json/emplace/)). All [example files](https://github.com/nlohmann/json/tree/develop/docs/examples) can be compiled and executed on their own (e.g., file [emplace.cpp](https://github.com/nlohmann/json/blob/develop/docs/examples/emplace.cpp)).
+Here are some examples to give you an idea how to use the class.
+
+Beside the examples below, you may want to:
+
+→ Check the [documentation](https://json.nlohmann.me/)\
+→ Browse the [standalone example files](https://github.com/nlohmann/json/tree/develop/docs/examples)
+
+Every API function (documented in the [API Documentation](https://json.nlohmann.me/api/basic_json/)) has a corresponding standalone example file. For example, the [`emplace()`](https://json.nlohmann.me/api/basic_json/emplace/) function has a matching [emplace.cpp](https://github.com/nlohmann/json/blob/develop/docs/examples/emplace.cpp) example file.
+
+### Read JSON from a file
+
+The `json` class provides an API for manipulating a JSON value. To create a `json` object by reading a JSON file:
+
+```cpp
+#include <fstream>
+#include <nlohmann/json.hpp>
+using json = nlohmann::json;
+
+// ...
+
+std::ifstream f("example.json");
+json data = json::parse(f);
+```
+
+### Creating `json` objects from JSON literals
+
+Assume you want to create hard-code this literal JSON value in a file, as a `json` object:
+
+```json
+{
+  "pi": 3.141,
+  "happy": true
+}
+```
+
+There are various options:
+
+```cpp
+// Using (raw) string literals and json::parse
+json ex1 = json::parse(R"(
+  {
+    "pi": 3.141,
+    "happy": true
+  }
+)");
+
+// Using user-defined (raw) string literals
+json ex2 = R"(
+  {
+    "pi": 3.141,
+    "happy": true
+  }
+)"_json;
+
+// Using initializer lists
+json ex3 = {
+  {"happy", true},
+  {"pi", 3.141},
+};
+```
 
 ### JSON as first-class data type