diff --git a/examples/util.py b/examples/util.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..995c09e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/util.py
@@ -0,0 +1,40 @@
+
+# shows a user's playlists (need to be authenticated via oauth)
+
+import os
+import subprocess
+import spotipy.oauth2 as oauth2
+
+def prompt_for_user_token(username):
+    ''' prompts the user to login if necessary and returns
+        the user token suitable for use with the spotipy.Spotify 
+        constructor
+    '''
+
+    client_id = os.getenv('CLIENT_ID', 'YOUR_CLIENT_ID')
+    client_secret = os.getenv('CLIENT_SECRET', 'YOUR_CLIENT_SECRET')
+    redirect_uri = os.getenv('REDIRECT_URI', 'YOUR_REDIRECT_URI')
+
+    sp_oauth = oauth2.SpotifyOAuth(client_id, client_secret, redirect_uri, cache_path=username)
+
+    # try to get a valid token for this user, from the cache,
+    # if not in the cache, the create a new (this will send
+    # the user to a web page where they can authorize this app)
+
+    token_info = sp_oauth.get_cached_token()
+
+    if not token_info:
+        auth_url = sp_oauth.get_authorize_url()
+        try:
+            subprocess.call(["open", auth_url])
+            print "Opening %s in your browser" % auth_url
+        except:
+            print "Please navigate here: %s" % auth_url
+        response = raw_input("Enter the URL you were redirected to: ")
+        code = sp_oauth.parse_response_code(response)
+        token_info = sp_oauth.get_access_token(code)
+    # Auth'ed API request
+    if token_info:
+        return token_info['access_token']
+    else:
+        return None