diff --git a/docs/index.md b/docs/index.md
index e2dd9fbae..931d6114f 100644
--- a/docs/index.md
+++ b/docs/index.md
@@ -79,42 +79,35 @@ Let's take a look at a quick example of using REST framework to build a simple m
 
 We'll create a read-write API for accessing users and groups.
 
+Here's our `views.py` module:
+
     from django.conf.urls.defaults import url, patterns, include
     from django.contrib.auth.models import User, Group
-    from rest_framework import serializers, viewsets, routers
-
-
-    # Serializers control the representations your API exposes.
-    class UserSerializer(serializers.HyperlinkedModelSerializer):
-        class Meta:
-            model = User
-            fields = ('url', 'email', 'is_staff', 'groups')
-
-
-    class GroupSerializer(serializers.HyperlinkedModelSerializer):
-        class Meta:
-            model = Group
-            fields = ('url', 'name')
+    from rest_framework import viewsets, routers
 
 
     # ViewSets define the view behavior.
     class UserViewSet(viewsets.ModelViewSet):
         queryset = User.objects.all()
-        serializer_class = UserSerializer
+        fields = ('url', 'email', 'is_staff', 'groups')
 
 
     class GroupViewSet(viewsets.ModelViewSet):
         queryset = Group.objects.all()
-        serializer_class = GroupSerializer
+        fields = ('url', 'name')
+
+And our `urls.py` setup:
+
+    from django.conf.urls.defaults import url, patterns, include
+    from myapp import views
+    from rest_framework import routers
 
 
-    # Routers provide a convienient way of automatically managing your URLs.
     router = routers.DefaultRouter()
-    router.register(r'users', UserViewSet, 'user')
-    router.register(r'groups', GroupViewSet, 'group')
+    router.register(r'users', views.UserViewSet, name='user')
+    router.register(r'groups', views.GroupViewSet, name='group')
 
-
-    # Wire up our API URLs, letting the router do the hard work.
+    # Wire up our API using automatic URL routing.
     # Additionally, we include login URLs for the browseable API.
     urlpatterns = patterns('',
         url(r'^', include(router.urls)),
diff --git a/rest_framework/generics.py b/rest_framework/generics.py
index 972424e63..0b8e4a157 100644
--- a/rest_framework/generics.py
+++ b/rest_framework/generics.py
@@ -44,6 +44,10 @@ class GenericAPIView(views.APIView):
     # the explicit style is generally preferred.
     model = None
 
+    # This shortcut may be used instead of setting the `serializer_class`
+    # attribute, although using the explicit style is generally preferred.
+    fields = None
+
     # If the `model` shortcut is used instead of `serializer_class`, then the
     # serializer class will be constructed using this class as the base.
     model_serializer_class = api_settings.DEFAULT_MODEL_SERIALIZER_CLASS
@@ -193,6 +197,7 @@ class GenericAPIView(views.APIView):
         class DefaultSerializer(self.model_serializer_class):
             class Meta:
                 model = self.model
+                fields = self.fields
         return DefaultSerializer
 
     def get_queryset(self):
diff --git a/rest_framework/serializers.py b/rest_framework/serializers.py
index 3afb74757..f4a200973 100644
--- a/rest_framework/serializers.py
+++ b/rest_framework/serializers.py
@@ -645,7 +645,7 @@ class ModelSerializer(Serializer):
 
         for relation in reverse_rels:
             accessor_name = relation.get_accessor_name()
-            if accessor_name not in self.opts.fields:
+            if not self.opts.fields or accessor_name not in self.opts.fields:
                 continue
             related_model = relation.model
             to_many = relation.field.rel.multiple
diff --git a/rest_framework/tests/generics.py b/rest_framework/tests/generics.py
index 4a13389a0..12c9b6778 100644
--- a/rest_framework/tests/generics.py
+++ b/rest_framework/tests/generics.py
@@ -344,6 +344,30 @@ class TestOverriddenGetObject(TestCase):
         self.assertEqual(response.data, self.data[0])
 
 
+class TestFieldsShortcut(TestCase):
+    """
+    Test cases for setting the `fields` attribute on a view.
+    """
+    def setUp(self):
+        class OverriddenFieldsView(generics.RetrieveUpdateDestroyAPIView):
+            model = BasicModel
+            fields = ('text',)
+
+        class RegularView(generics.RetrieveUpdateDestroyAPIView):
+            model = BasicModel
+
+        self.overridden_fields_view = OverriddenFieldsView()
+        self.regular_view = RegularView()
+
+    def test_overridden_fields_view(self):
+        Serializer = self.overridden_fields_view.get_serializer_class()
+        self.assertEqual(Serializer().fields.keys(), ['text'])
+
+    def test_not_overridden_fields_view(self):
+        Serializer = self.regular_view.get_serializer_class()
+        self.assertEqual(Serializer().fields.keys(), ['id', 'text'])
+
+
 # Regression test for #285
 
 class CommentSerializer(serializers.ModelSerializer):