In this way not only did his critics became fewer but he came to be acclaimed by public opinion.
而對李約瑟來說，這些範疇正是他的本工行當，不免把他的淵博學識在此發揮得淋漓盡致。如此一來，不但抨擊的人比以前少了，相反的，卻震撼輿論，廣獲好評。此後，「廿世紀最佳西方漢學鉅著」「超越世紀的佳構」之類的形容，幾成定論。