Pre-order: North of Ordinary by Sue Aikens with Autographed Photo

Pre-order yours now! Be among the first to receive the hardcover first edition of Sue Aikens' memoir! Pre-order the hardcover edition of Sue's exciting new memoir North of Ordinary North of Ordinary: How One Woman Left It All Behind for Wilderness and Wonder in Alaska's Frozen Frontier AND get an autographed photo from Sue! Publication date: March 10, 2026

Star of National Geographic's Life Below Zero for 14 Seasons, Sue Aikens is a renowned trail blazer living alone for months at a time in the Arctic Circle. Now, for the first time, Sue tells her own story of survival, hardship, self-acceptance, joy and living life on her own terms. 

Sue Aikens was born on July 1, 1962, in Mount Prospect, Illinois. On a trip to Alaska at age 11, her life changed forever. In the rugged wilderness of Alaska, where survival often hinges on sheer will and determination, Sue Aikens has carved out a life that is as thrilling as it is challenging.

About North of Ordinary North of Ordinary How One Woman Left It All Behind for Wilderness and Wonder in Alaska's Frozen Frontier

When the wild strips everything away, what's left is who you are.

In the raw, untamed wilds of Alaska—where the wind howls, predators hunt, and the sun disappears for months—only a rare few figure out how to survive. Sue Aikens, the breakout star of National Geographic's long-running TV show Life Below Zero, is one of them. At her remote outpost 200 miles north of the Arctic Circle, she weathers more than just brutal winters and hungry bears. Sue battles isolation, injury, and the ghosts of a turbulent past, forging a life in a place most people wouldn't last a day.

Left to fend for herself as a child, Sue's fight to survive began long before she ever set foot in Alaska. In North of Ordinary, she tells the unforgettable story of abandonment, grit, and fierce independence—from navigating deadly storms and surviving a horrific bear attack to learning how to build a life, a home, and a sense of self where most would see only desolation. With her trademark wit, fearless honesty, and an indomitable spirit, Sue proves that the toughest terrain isn't always on the map. It's the one we conquer inside.

Unflinching and inspiring, North of Ordinary is a memoir of resilience, reinvention, and the extraordinary power of choosing your own way through the world.

• ISBN: 9781464242564
• Format: Hardcover
• Publisher: Sourcebooks
• Page Count: 304