  GRB 221009A has been referred to as the Brightest Of All Time (the BOAT). We
investigate the veracity of this statement by comparing it with a half century
of prompt gamma-ray burst observations. This burst is the brightest ever
detected by the measures of peak flux and fluence. Unexpectedly, GRB 221009A
has the highest isotropic-equivalent total energy ever identified, while the
peak luminosity is at the $\sim99$th percentile of the known distribution. We
explore how such a burst can be powered and discuss potential implications for
ultra-long and high-redshift gamma-ray bursts. By geometric extrapolation of
the total fluence and peak flux distributions GRB 221009A appears to be a once
in 10,000 year event. Thus, while it almost certainly not the BOAT over all of
cosmic history, it may be the brightest gamma-ray burst since human
civilization began.
