The influential book by Karl Marx that outlined the principles of communism is "The Communist Manifesto," co-authored with Friedrich Engels and published in 1848. This work argues for the working class, or proletariat, to rise against the bourgeoisie or capitalist class to establish a classless society. It critiques capitalism and presents the idea of historical materialism, which posits that societal progress results from class struggles. The "Manifesto" became a fundamental text for socialist and communist movements worldwide, outlining Marx's theories of economic systems and advocating for the revolutionary overthrow of capitalism.