Novels:
* The Foreigner: (Der Fremde, 1981) - A novel about a man who returns to East Germany after years in the West and struggles to adapt to life under the communist regime.
* The Diary of a Snail: (Das Tagebuch der Schnecke, 1989) - A satirical novel exploring the limitations of self-expression in a totalitarian society.
* The Report: (Der Bericht, 1992) - A novel exploring the ramifications of East Germany's communist past and the challenges of coming to terms with it.
* The Singing Lesson: (Die Gesangstunde, 1998) - A novel about a music teacher who, after being forced to flee the GDR, returns to face the consequences of his past actions.
* The Life of the Dead: (Das Leben der Toten, 2001) - A novel exploring the nature of memory and the complex relationship between the living and the dead.
* The Red Mirror: (Der rote Spiegel, 2003) - A novel about a group of friends who reunite after years of separation, each with their own secrets and struggles.
* The Sunken City: (Die versunkene Stadt, 2005) - A novel set in the context of German reunification, exploring the psychological impact of the past on the present.
* The Last Supper: (Das letzte Abendmahl, 2009) - A novel about a group of people who gather for a meal, each carrying their own burdens and secrets.
* The World in My Head: (Die Welt in meinem Kopf, 2014) - A novel exploring the world of an elderly writer who is struggling with dementia.
Plays:
* The Horseman: (Der Steppenreiter, 1986) - A play exploring the themes of alienation and conformity in a totalitarian society.
* The Blue Dragon: (Der blaue Drache, 1991) - A play about a group of people who are forced to confront their past.
* The Meeting: (Die Begegnung, 2004) - A play exploring the consequences of the Holocaust.
Screenplays:
* The Lives of Others: (Das Leben der Anderen, 2006) - A film about the Stasi, East Germany's secret police. Hein co-wrote the screenplay with Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck.
Hein's works are known for their complex characters, their exploration of the German past, and their thought-provoking themes. His writing often deals with the themes of memory, identity, and the search for meaning in a world that is often fragmented and uncertain. He is one of the most important German authors of his generation, and his work continues to be widely read and discussed.