How to Build a Ladder Bookshelf

Stand up the tiered shelves on their backs, arranged shortest to tallest, on a level work surface. Dry-fit the shelves into the notches on the uprights. Make sure that the trimmed wall-side edges of the uprights rest flat against the work surface. Now glue the shelves to the uprights and drive two 1¼-inch screws through each shelf's sidepieces and into the uprights. Fill the fastener holes, then sand and paint. To finish, add nonskid foam pads to the feet and the wall-side edge of each upright.