Lightning and Humans: The Early Days.- Basic Physics of Electrical Discharges.- Basic Electromagnetic Theory.- Earth\'s Atmosphere.- The Thundercloud and Lightning Phenomenology.- Mechanism of Charge Generation in Thunderclouds.- Mechanism of the Lightning Flash.- Features of Electrical Currents in Lightning Flashes.- Electric and Magnetic Fields of Lightning Flashes.- Lightning Return Stroke Models.- Lightning Return Stroke Speed.- Propagation Effects on Lightning Generated Electromagnetic Fields.- Lightning Location.- Potential of the Thundercloud and the Charge Distribution in Leaders and Return Strokes.- Direct and Indirect Effects of Lightning.- Interaction of Lightning Flashes with Humans.- Principles of Lightning Protection.- Advanced Procedures to Locate the Point of Attachment of Lightning Flashes.- Interaction of Lightning Flashes and Thunderclouds with the Earth\'s Atmosphere.- Unusual Forms of Lightning.- Appendix A: How to Avoid Lightning Injuries Including Questions and Answers.- Appendix B: Advanced books on Lightning for further reading.