2012 looks to be an interesting year for the already complex political triangle among the United States, Taiwan and China, what with each country undergoing political transitions. Should we expect policy continuity from President Ma Ying-jeou and the likely new Chinese leader Xi Jinping? What about continuity in the United States?

For Barack Obama’s supporters on the left, to say his policy choices have been a disappointment would be an understatement. Explaining how this came about is Jack Goldsmith’s provocative new book.

By the end of the year, 10,000 American soldiers in Afghanistan will be home with their families--and their memories. As many as 20 percent of them will suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety or depression, while suicide rates have reached tragic new highs among veterans. In response, the Department of Veterans Affairs has greatly expanded its mental health services.

There is an undeniable appeal to algorithms in medicine. However, there are several concerns about this type of medicine.

Policies enacted over the last few decades have systematically eroded the ability of manufacturers to earn returns on certain drugs, especially older parenteral drugs sold as generics. We need to reform the policies governing these markets if we're going to lure investment back into these important areas.

Improving healthcare will require increased focus on the gap between the clinical practice of medicine and health as it's experienced in real life.

China's new leadership is threatening to stay content with slower economic growth, and the country's manufacturing, housing, and export sectors are experiencing problems. Nonetheless, China has an opportunity to influence economic growth in 2012 through stimulus measures to its own economy.

Start-up Nation, a new book by Dan Senor and Saul Singer, clearly and effectively demonstrate the power of entrepreneurship in one small nation, the State of Israel.