In a capsulized summary of Sidney Hook's view on Marxism, he makes it clear that the 1917 Bolshevik revolution was not directly tied to true Marxism. For Hook, Marx's thoughts, at its roots was essentially a product of Western European civilization. It was a blend of German classical philosophy, English economic theory, and French socialism. These ingredients were then blended into his own ideas concerning modern man and the aforementioned sources.His criticism of political democracy is that it is incomplete until its meaning is extended to other spheres of life, not simply political life. In the view of Sidney Hook, Marx wanted to extend it everywhere. Marx could not conceive socialism except under a democratic political form.

Sidney Hook's ideas have been debated and his views run counter to many other political thinkers. One thing is certain however, Marx would have never dreamed his name would be attached to the Bolshevik revolution of 1917.