"What distinguishes Cohen's writing style and his book from most of those in the genre is not only his lifelong experience speaking with local Arabs and working in the Israeli archives but his attention to the details, to seeking out the histories of the people involved. This is in contrast to most commentators on Israel and the Palestinians who look only at the bigger picture, generally because they have only a weak understanding of people's intimate family histories and local knowledge...In the final analysis, Rise and Fall is an important contribution to the history of Jerusalem, written by a master storyteller and excellent academic." - Seth J. Frantzman, Jerusalem Post