diff --git a/examples/add_person.py b/examples/add_person.py
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..0b69857
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/add_person.py
@@ -0,0 +1,56 @@
+#! /usr/bin/env python
+
+# See README.txt for information and build instructions.
+
+import addressbook_pb2
+import sys
+
+# This function fills in a Person message based on user input.
+def PromptForAddress(person):
+  person.id = int(raw_input("Enter person ID number: "))
+  person.name = raw_input("Enter name: ")
+
+  email = raw_input("Enter email address (blank for none): ")
+  if email != "":
+    person.email = email
+
+  while True:
+    number = raw_input("Enter a phone number (or leave blank to finish): ")
+    if number == "":
+      break
+
+    phone_number = person.phones.add()
+    phone_number.number = number
+
+    type = raw_input("Is this a mobile, home, or work phone? ")
+    if type == "mobile":
+      phone_number.type = addressbook_pb2.Person.MOBILE
+    elif type == "home":
+      phone_number.type = addressbook_pb2.Person.HOME
+    elif type == "work":
+      phone_number.type = addressbook_pb2.Person.WORK
+    else:
+      print "Unknown phone type; leaving as default value."
+
+# Main procedure:  Reads the entire address book from a file,
+#   adds one person based on user input, then writes it back out to the same
+#   file.
+if len(sys.argv) != 2:
+  print "Usage:", sys.argv[0], "ADDRESS_BOOK_FILE"
+  sys.exit(-1)
+
+address_book = addressbook_pb2.AddressBook()
+
+# Read the existing address book.
+try:
+  with open(sys.argv[1], "rb") as f:
+    address_book.ParseFromString(f.read())
+except IOError:
+  print sys.argv[1] + ": File not found.  Creating a new file."
+
+# Add an address.
+PromptForAddress(address_book.people.add())
+
+# Write the new address book back to disk.
+with open(sys.argv[1], "wb") as f:
+  f.write(address_book.SerializeToString())