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.