Why does auto schedule insist on making the longest task happen first?

I make a simple list of tasks, which must take place in a particular order.

They have varied lengths, yet when I auto schedule, the Gant view shows me that the longest starts first, then the second longest, and so on.

The only way I can avoid this happening is by manually linking tasks but I fear doing it this way the project file will quickly become unmanageable.

What is the correct thing to do in ths situation?