Steven Higgs is the author of five books, with his sixth — Andy Mahler and the Hoosier National — to be published Oct 1.
StevenHiggs.com will donate $15 from each sale of this book to Heartwood, Protect Our Woods, Indiana Forest Alliance, or any other nonprofits the purchasers choose.
Please message us through our Contact Form and tell us which group.
This 8.5×11, full color coffee table book chronicles the remarkable life and career of Southern Indiana forest activist Andy Mahler and one leg of his family’s two-generation journey from Nazi Vienna in the 1930s to the Hoosier National Forest in the 2020s.
Along the way, Andy helped organize concerned citizens in Indiana and the Central Hardwood region and ultimately got off-road vehicles banned on the Hoosier National and commercial timber harvesting shut down on millions of acres of national forest land.
The 130-page book also profiles the 204,000-acre Hoosier National’s 350-million year natural history and its 15,000-year human history, from the Ice Age to the early 21st century.
Drawn from 40 years of conversations and explorations with Andy, the book is illustrated with more than 100 Steven Higgs photographs captured on the Hoosier National over the past half century.
Self published, September 2025
“A Guide to Natural Areas of Southern Indiana is the first comprehensive and fully illustrated guidebook for nature lovers who want to explore the wild and natural areas of southern Indiana by trail, water, or road. Featuring 95 beautiful color photos and 5 maps, it provides ideas for a lifetime of fun and exploration, and makes planning easy by including directions to the areas, offering suggestions on what to do when you arrive, and what you will find when you explore.
“Environmental writer and photographer, Steven Higgs highlights each site’s unique natural characteristics and history with additional facts, anecdotes, and observations. Higgs directs readers to the very best locations in southern Indiana for bird and game watching, fishing and boating, hiking and camping, and more.
“Come and explore the natural areas that represent southern Indiana wilderness at its pristine best!”
Indiana University Press, 2016
“Beautiful and pristine, the natural areas of Indiana are perfect for nature lovers with a desire to explore. Featuring more than 140 beautiful color photos, A Guide to Natural Areas of Northern Indiana showcases the region’s unique ecosystems and includes descriptions of the flora, fauna, geology, history, and recreational opportunities. For those who want excitement, there is information on hiking, camping, bird watching, horseback riding, boating, and more.
“Environmental writer and photographer Steven Higgs takes readers to the most exquisite natural areas across the region, including the JD Marshall underwater shipwreck preserve in Lake Michigan, the Indiana Dunes State Park, the Hoosier Prairie Nature Preserve, the Valparaiso Moraine, Spicer Lake, and many more.
“A must-have book for the explorer or nature lover, A Guide to Natural Areas of Northern Indiana is the perfect resource for travelers who want to learn more about the region’s distinctive natural heritage.”
Indiana University Press, 2019
