Remember, Rizal had already been exposed in Germany of the ethnographers, (Fedor Jagor who studied the Igorots) scientists (Dr. Rudolf Virchow, linguist who studied the “Mangianes” of Mindoro), naturalist (Dr. Adolf B. Meyer who collected Mindanao specimen) and anthropologist/historian/Filipinist (Ferdinand Blumentritt).Rizal, now a self-confident mature gentleman-scientist, was attracted by the Japanese culture and immersed himself in its ancient tradition.
Kasama rin ang ilan pang biograpiya na sinundan si Retana: Ang Man of the Century ni Pedro Gagelonia at The Great Malayan ni Carlos Quirino na bagama’t nagtamo lamang ng honorable mention sa Commonwealth Biography Contest ay pinaboran naman ng Pang. Manuel Quezon, kaya ibinigay sa kanya ang premyong katumbas ng sa unang gantimpala, Php 3,000. Isa sa rekomendadong biograpiya ni Rizal ay ang Rizal: Philippine Nationalist and Martyr ng Briton na si Austin Coates na isinalin sa Filipino ni Nilo Ocampo.