Knocked Out But Not Down

One bull riders story of faith and resilience in the aftermath of multiple concussions

Nick Morrison

• Publisher: Life Sized Publishing
• eBook ISBN:
  9781997730217
• Year: 2025

Knocked Out But Not Down is a raw, funny, deeply human memoir about what it means to take hit after hit, literally and still choose to stand back up. Drawing from decades of lived experience as a former bull rider, motivational speaker, musician, and storyteller, Nick Morrison invites readers into a life shaped by dozens of concussions, unexpected career resets, and the kind of adversity that blindsides you without warning. From the earliest pages, Nick speaks with unfiltered honesty about passing out unexpectedly, rebuilding his life after crushed dreams, losing his home in a hurricane, teaching himself to speak again, and watching his brother survive a broken neck that left him paralyzed from the armpits down. His mission is clear: to help others face hardship head-on and to remind them that resilience is not a trait, it's a fight you recommit to every single day. Told through vivid, cinematic storytelling rooted in cowboy and rodeo culture, the book blends personal narrative with practical insight. Nick explains the reality of post-concussion syndrome from the inside—what it feels like, how it disrupts everyday life, and why "taking care of concussions" is more than a slogan. He writes not as a doctor, but as someone surviving its effects daily, offering understanding, hope, and humor in equal measure. While the focus centers on concussions, Nick's broader message is universal: adversity comes for everyone, often when we least expect it. Whether you're an athlete, a parent, a spouse, or someone fighting a personal battle others can't see, this book offers encouragement, perspective, and a reminder that being "knocked out" is not the same as being defeated. This is not a medical textbook; this is a lifeline, a companion, and a testament to the power of refusing to stay down. Perfect for readers seeking inspiration, resilience, and a deeply relatable voice, Knocked Out But Not Down shows that no matter how hard life hits, you can rise stronger than before.

Table of contents

• Full Page Image
• Title Page
• Copyright
• Dedication
• Contents
• Foreword
• Note from the Author
• 1. Why Write This Book?
• 2. Childhood as an Adrenaline Junkie
• 3. When a Helmet Saved My Life
• 4. The Snowball Effect
• 5. My Introduction to Temporary Amnesia
• 6. When I Got Knocked Out Three Times in One Night
• 7. Sudden End to a Rodeo Dream
• 8. Bitter or Better
• 9. The Concussion That Broke the Camel’s Brain
• 10. My Lightbulb Epiphany
• 11. The Quarter Incident
• 12. When I Thought I Had Only One Option
• 13. The 15 Minute Rule
• 14. We Don’t Deserve Dogs
• 15. Learning My Limits
• 16. The Worst Was Yet to Come
• 17. Thriving in the Face of Adversity
• 18. Take Care of Concussions
• Rodeo/Cowboy Terminology
• Acknowledgments
• About the Author
• Full Page Image