Market-Based Control: A paradigm for Distributed Resource Allocation by Scott H. Clearwater

What it is about:

A series of case studies for application of market based algorithms (think Nash Equilibrium, Pareto Optimums, ...) to optimization problems that are very hard to even formulate in traditional terms.

Why it changed my thinking:

I have dedicated my career to Supply Chain information systems and every time an optimization problems comes up we are faced with the twin challenges of how to get reliable information to feed to the system and how to ensure an in-time implementation of the resulting solutions. Both problems arise from the distributed nature of supply chains with independent actors, private information and different priorities. The kind of systems that this book points to offer a way out that regretfully has not yet gained widespread adoption.

Where to get it:

(Note, if you buy from the link here, I get a little commission back)