diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 23a271e03..9c16f276c 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -144,6 +144,12 @@ Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License"); you may not use
 
 Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS, WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied. See the License for the specific language governing permissions and limitations under the License.
 
+## Learning curve
+
+New contributors should expect a steep learning curve due to the
+research-oriented structure and limited abstractions.
+
+
 [docs-main-image]: https://img.shields.io/badge/docs-main-blue?logo=googledocs&logoColor=white
 [docs-main-link]: https://informalsystems.github.io/malachite/
 [build-image]: https://github.com/circlefin/malachite/actions/workflows/rust.yml/badge.svg