Much is uncertain about EMP,
But the destruction of most items with an integrated circuit is very unlikely.
I personally know people involved in the EMP testing being done by the U.S. Army. I have toured the U.S. EMP test site
I was in U.S. Army RDT&E for over 30 years,
Your experience definitely TRUMPS mine! Odd how I suddenly feel strange writing that word, but it fits.
I just think that the book is vital not so much for the lasting effects of EMP whatever they may be, but rather for the forward thinking it requires of the survival mindset needed to last through any disaster that may take an extended amount of time to recover from.
The false idea that if you live in the rural areas, you're going to be "fine" because of the isolation from larger cities and an abundance of animals... The need to think about critical care patients like those whose meds require they be kept cold or who may need power to run medical equipment. Or the requirement for large burial sites or those who will band together to form criminal gangs bordering on militias to take advantage of the chaos. Katrina scenarios on steroids.