diff --git a/CLAUDE.md b/CLAUDE.md
index 922dd48..041e3a3 100644
--- a/CLAUDE.md
+++ b/CLAUDE.md
@@ -30,6 +30,12 @@
 - Concise commit messages
 - Claude footer: short one-liner only
 
+## Session Summaries
+- When user requests session summary, create in docs/session_summaries/
+- Format: YYYY-MM-DD-descriptive-name.md
+- Keep concise: changes made, commits, results (net line count)
+- See existing summaries for reference format
+
 ## Common Commands
 - Build: make
 - Run: ./orbit_sim [config_file]
diff --git a/docs/session_summaries/2026-01-04-readme-condensing.md b/docs/session_summaries/2026-01-04-readme-condensing.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..fc040ee
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/session_summaries/2026-01-04-readme-condensing.md
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+# README Condensing Session (2026-01-04)
+
+## Changes Made
+
+Condensed README.md from 138 to 70 lines:
+- Simplified feature list and getting started sections
+- Removed Configuration File Format and Technical Details sections
+- Added Documentation section with links to detailed docs
+- Updated .gitignore (session_logs path, sync.sh)
+- Updated CLAUDE.md (session_logs file reading policy)
+
+## Commits
+
+- `4a6b6cc` Condense README and update project configuration
+
+## Results
+
+3 files changed, +26/-95 (net -69 lines)
+README is now a concise quick-start guide with references to detailed documentation.