diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index b516468..5fb821b 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -53,7 +53,24 @@ You can use obelisk like:
 
 ### Install
 
-Obelisk requires Node.js 22.13 or newer. Install the platform-neutral CLI first:
+#### Let your agent install it (recommended)
+
+The shortest path is to give the bootstrap guide directly to a coding agent
+with shell access. Paste this as a prompt into Claude Code, Codex, or another
+agent — not into your terminal:
+
+```text
+Install Obelisk by fetching and following this guide:
+curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/tommy0103/obelisk/main/SKILL.md
+```
+
+The agent will ask before changing your machine, install and verify the CLI,
+then install the formal `/obelisk` skill. The bootstrap guide is only for
+one-time setup; it is not the query skill itself.
+
+#### Install manually
+
+Obelisk requires Node.js 22.13 or newer. Install the platform-neutral CLI:
 
 ```bash
 npm install --global @obelisk-apps/cli
@@ -73,11 +90,7 @@ obelisk install
 ```
 
 `obelisk install` delegates to the standard skills installer for
-`tommy0103/obelisk-skill`. To let an agent perform the one-time bootstrap, give
-it the repository's root
-[`SKILL.md`](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/tommy0103/obelisk/main/SKILL.md).
-That document installs the CLI and formal skill; it is not the query skill
-itself.
+`tommy0103/obelisk-skill`.
 
 Then in any Claude Code session:
 
diff --git a/packaging/skill-README.md b/packaging/skill-README.md
index cac19b4..cb047c1 100644
--- a/packaging/skill-README.md
+++ b/packaging/skill-README.md
@@ -3,7 +3,18 @@
 Explicit memory infrastructure for coding agents — a queryable SQLite evidence
 layer over local Claude Code and Codex session history.
 
-## Install
+## Install with your agent (recommended)
+
+Paste this into a coding agent with shell access:
+
+```text
+Install Obelisk by fetching and following this guide:
+curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/tommy0103/obelisk/main/SKILL.md
+```
+
+The agent installs and verifies the CLI first, then installs this skill.
+
+## Install manually
 
 ```bash
 npm install --global @obelisk-apps/cli
diff --git a/tests/cli-bootstrap-install.test.mjs b/tests/cli-bootstrap-install.test.mjs
index 943ac59..647ffd3 100644
--- a/tests/cli-bootstrap-install.test.mjs
+++ b/tests/cli-bootstrap-install.test.mjs
@@ -24,6 +24,24 @@ test('root SKILL.md bootstraps the CLI before installing the official skill', ()
   assert.doesNotMatch(source, /obelisk --query/);
 });
 
+test('README presents agent-led installation before manual npm setup', () => {
+  const source = readFileSync(join(repoRoot, 'README.md'), 'utf8');
+  const publishedSkillReadme = readFileSync(
+    join(repoRoot, 'packaging', 'skill-README.md'),
+    'utf8',
+  );
+  const agentInstall = source.indexOf('Let your agent install it (recommended)');
+  const manualInstall = source.indexOf('Install manually');
+
+  assert.ok(agentInstall >= 0);
+  assert.ok(manualInstall > agentInstall);
+  assert.match(source, /curl -fsSL .*\/SKILL\.md/);
+  assert.ok(
+    publishedSkillReadme.indexOf('Install with your agent (recommended)')
+      < publishedSkillReadme.indexOf('Install manually'),
+  );
+});
+
 test('install.sh installs and verifies only the CLI', () => {
   const home = mkdtempSync(join(tmpdir(), 'obelisk-install-script-'));
   const fakeBin = join(home, 'bin');