It is a miniature reconstruction: each figure seems local, but ends up fixing the entire row. The pleasure is in watching a dry sequence become almost inevitable.

The height shelf

Reasoner
Master plays

Riddle statement

Five books of different heights 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5—where 1 is the shortest and 5 the tallest—are placed in a row.

Each book writes down how many books taller than it has to its left.

The notes, from left to right, are:
\[
0,\ 1,\ 1,\ 3,\ 2.
\]

In what order are the books, from left to right?