This lamp is terrific!  I was able to place it on the far side of an end table and focus the light over the center of a love seat.  It provides great light directly overhead for reading and does not take up any space on the end table.  The on/off switch is on the cord but my husband added a remote switch so it can easily be operated without getting up.   My husband had no trouble putting it together.  It does come in two separate boxes, the base and shade in one and the long neck in two separate parts in the other.  The box with the neck was almost torn off but the parts were heavily wrapped and were not damaged.