I don't have a table saw or a router or anything like that. I do have a circular saw, and a drill. I could probably justify buying a tool like a Kreg Jig or something like that for this project.
Wood – a good plan for building cube bookcases with basic tools
wooden-furniturewoodworking
Related Solutions
Reciprocating Saw
Most fun.
Miter Saw
Fastest.
Circular Saw
Most likely to have on hand.
Jig Saw
Slow.
Hand Saw
Slower.
Butter knife
Slowest.
Pruning Saw
Longest reach.
Fire
Cut right to the chase
Beaver
Requires lots of training, food, and cleanup (thanks @SteveJackson for pointing this method out).
Chain saw
By popular demand (don't use on PT wood)
No affinity to Ridgid, just the first brand in the list when searching for reciprocating saw.
A 60 tooth is a fine blade for semi-smooth finish cuts. Cuts on flooring are always at the wall ends, so even a 40 is good for that since the baseboard trim goes over the cut. You should be leaving a 1/4 inch expansion gap at he ends anyway, so they won't show. The DeWalt 12" blade is a good long lasting blade. It has good balance, heat dissipation and takes a beating. I have several Dewalts and some other much more expensive blades for my 12' DeWalt double bevel chop saw. For most applications, the DeWalt is perfectly fine. If you start doing precision cuts in $6.00/foot hardwood cabinet crowns, then buy a $100 to $200 blade. Judging from your question, you are not to that level, so the DeWalt is a fine choice.
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Best Answer
Congratulations on building your own book case. Here are a few tips.
Get a good large framing square. This tool will help you scribe square guide lines and also can be used as a guide for your circular saw to cut nice straight and square pieces of wood.
Use tiny head, counter sunk finish screws and wood glue to secure the pieces.
Make the bottom and top horizontal pieces full width. Fit the vertical upright pieces between them. Fit the shelves between the upright pieces.
Carefully measure and scribe the bottom edge location of your horizontal shelves on the vertical uprights.
Clamp a straight guide to these lines to help align the shelves to your lines before securing them to the sides.
Drill and countersink pilot holes for your screws so you won't split your wood.
Use glue on all joints.
Install a back or at least small 90 degree triangle pieces of wood or thin plywood on the back four or any parameter corners to assure your case doesn't rack or lean sideways when loaded.
Measure twice or three times, then cut once!!!
Fill your screw holes with lightweight spackle, sand smooth, prime, paint and enjoy.
Good luck