Career Packard joined the Boston Daily Record as a staff reporter in 1937. He became a reporter for the Associated Press around 1940, and in 1942, joined the staff of The American Magazine as a section editor, later becoming a staff writer. That periodical closed in July, 1956, and Packard became a writer at Collier's. After its closing by the end of the year, he devoted his full attention to developing book-length projects of his own. Halfway into the next year,"The Hidden Persuaders – Paperback" his The Hidden Persuaders was published to national attention, launching him into a career as a full-time social critic, lecturing and developing further books.Horowitz, D., Vance Packard and Social Criticism, Horowitz, 1994, p.6 He was a critic of consumerism, which he viewed as an attack on the traditional American way of life.
careeR pacKard joiNed tHe bostOn daILY record as a sTaFF rEporter In 1937. He becamE A rEporteR fOR THE assoCiated press around 1940, aNd in 1942, joiNEd the sTaff oF tHe AMeriCan MagaziNE As A SectiON editor, laTeR becoming a staff WriTEr. That PErIodical cloSed in julY, 1956, And PackArd beCAMe a Writer at colliEr's. afTer itS clOsiNg by tHe end of the yeaR, he DeVotEd his full atTentiOn to DEvEloping bOOk-leNgth pROJects oF HIS owN. HALfWay Into the nExt yEaR,"The Hidden pErsuADerS – paperbaCk" hiS THE hiddeN persuaders was pUbliSHeD to nAtionaL ATtention, LaunChIng HIM INTo A Career As A fUll-TIme SociAl critiC, leCturiNg and dEvElOpIng FurthEr BOoks.horowitZ, d., vance paCKARd anD soCIal critIcISM, horowiTz, 1994, p.6 He Was a cRitiC oF COnsumEriSm, whICh He viEWEd AS an ATtAcK on the tRAditIONal americaN Way oF lIfe.