It took my 10-year-old son and I a little over an hour to put this together. The directions were clear and simple, and all we needed was a screwdriver for most of it. (My husband helped with the final bit, getting in the metal shelf supports with a power screwdriver.) It seemed very sturdy, considering that the back is supported by rails, rather than one solid piece. It's a nice dark espresso color, and we couldn't find any surface flaws. The tall, narrow shape is perfect for our youngest son's small bedroom and holds a ton of books, baskets with toys, board games, and puzzles. And, this is by far the best price I've seen on this type of bookshelf. A definite winner. Thank you, Wayfair!