Brooking Named in Forbes 30 Under 30
Scroll all the way down to see the original publication in the Jan. 11, 2019 edition of The Northeast Georgian.
BY ERIC PEREIRA
Emerson Brooking
Deep in the woods off of state Route 23, used to live a boy surrounded by 40 acres of the Chattahoochee National Forest. Little did Emerson T. Brooking know that he would one day find himself in the big city with nearly every media outlet wanting to talk to him.
Habersham Central High School 2007 graduate Emerson T. Brooking has been recently named in the Forbes 30 under 30, a recognition of people’s accomplishments in their respective industries.
According to their website, the recognition selects 600 trailblazers in 20 industries in the U.S and Canada. Brooking was placed in the Law and Policy category.
The Gainesville-born, Habersham-raised author was nominated for recognition after the release of his latest book “LikeWar: The Weaponization of Social Media.” The book was co-authored with P.W. Singer, a strategist and senior fellow at the New America Foundation.
Brooking said the book’s response has been “very positive,” with it being featured in various major newspapers like The New York Times and The Washington Post, to more speciality publications like Foreign Policy and Rolling Stone.
Brooking said “Like-War” has been named an Amazon top 100 book of 2018 as well as being awarded a top 20 category on Amazon for categories of nonfiction and business and leadership.
“Brooking’s expertise on the matter has made him a leading cyber warfare pundit,” his blurb reads on the Forbes website.
But before Brooking was participating in interviews, book talks and even discussing his ideas with members of U.S. Congress, he was attending school in Habersham County.
Brooking grew up in the Clarkesville/Turnerville area, attending Woodville Elementary School and North Habersham Middle School.
He said his interest for writing began to grow after he was the winner of a Young Georgia Authors award in fourth grade. Several other writing awards can be found in a wide binder at the home of his two proud parents.
“That was a big thing that got me pushing toward writing,” he said of the YGA award. “Because we didn’t have that many creative opportunities in school … that showed me that there were opportunities to write for recognition.”
“The public schools in Habersham County I think are notable,” his mother and number one fan Virginia Brooking said. “I think Habersham County has something to be proud of.”
When asked about his favorite teacher at HCHS, Emerson Brooking mentioned the late Wayne Bailey, who he said passed away in 2014. Bailey was his English teacher.
“He’s really someone who steered me more toward nonfiction writing or showed me that I wasn’t just story telling — that a good essay, or a good nonfiction article could tell a story all its own.”
However, other teachers quickly noticed his potential.
“I have known (Emerson) Thomas since he entered kindergarten at Woodville Elementary and had the good fortune to be his AP Calculus teacher at Habersham Central,” said HCHS math teacher Martha Cantrell. “Thomas was an exceptional math student, but I remember his love for writing and history were evident early. Thomas has a terrific sense of humor and a high level of curiosity. I am not surprised that he is engaged in significant work so early in his career. We are so proud of Thomas (Emerson) and know that he will continue to excel at high levels.”
“If he sets his mind on a goal … There’s no limit,” said his father Emerson D. Brooking.
Today, Emerson Brooking lives in Washington D.C. He graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a bachelor’s in political science and classical studies.
“I didn’t know it was a dream, I think I spent less than 10 days of my life in a city bigger than Gainesville until I went to college," Emerson Brooking said. "And it was a difficult adjustment from the deep forest to the city. But I got used to it and grew to love the excitement."
Emerson Brooking’s parents always look forward to speaking with him every Sunday afternoon to catch up on everywhere he’s been. He said there remains a possibility of moving back to the rural community he was ever so familiar with.
“I think a place like Habersham [County] is a very good place to raise a family,” Emerson Brooking said.
With all of the achievements and opportunities that have come his way, he is grateful for the people that helped him along this journey from the mountains to the city.
“I obviously couldn’t have done it without them,” Emerson Brooking said. “I think about my parents … not only did they give me a stable, loving environment which I grew up 18 years in Habersham. But they kept supporting me in everything I’ve done since. We’ve stayed in close contact. And the many hard times I’ve had as I struggle to write a book, have anxiety about speaking in public or anything else, they’ve always been there. They’ve been a voice of reason and they’ve been a patient ear through my anxieties and challenges.”
