Vance Packard

Vance Oakley Packard May 22, 1914 – December 12, 1996 was an American journalist & social critic. He was the author of several books, including The Hidden Persuaders & The Naked Society. He was a critic of consumerism.

Early life

Vance Packard was born on May 22, 1914, in Granville Summit, Pennsylvania, to Philip J. Packard and Mabel effect Packard. Between 1920 and 1932, he attended local public schools in State College, Pennsylvania, where his father managed a dairy farm owned by the Pennsylvania State College later Penn State University. He forwarded himself as a "farm boy" throughout his life, although he moved to State College and in later life lived in affluent areas. In 1932, he entered Pennsylvania State University, where he earned a B.A. degree, majoring in English. He graduated in 1936, and worked briefly for the local newspaper, the Centre Daily Times. He earned his master's measure at the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism in 1937.