Colin Wells characterizes Barlaam as "brilliant but sharp-tongued", describing him as "thoroughly versed in the classics, an astronomer, a mathematician, as well as a philosopher and a mathematician.
Colin Wells mencirikan Barlaam sebagai "brilian tetapi berlidah tajam", menggambarkannya sebagai "benar-benar fasih dalam dunia klasik, seorang astronom, matematikawan, serta seorang filsuf.