Galit Atlas uses extensive case material as she seeks to describe what she calls the Enigmatic and the Pragmatic in The Enigma of Desire, ensuring that the book remains engaging throughout. Early on, she establishes what she means by the terms Enigmatic and Pragmatic, then explains and illustrates these themes through discussion and case material. She uses the term therapeutic tale, rather than case, to emphasize the role of the therapist as a co-creator, rather than an objective observer, in her illustrations. As the book progresses, she explores these themes throughout the life cycle with focus on femininity and childbirth in three parts: Enigmatic and Pragmatic, Enigmatic Knowing, and The Unknown.

Early in the introduction, Atlas defines the words Enigmatic and Pragmatic and also notes why she capitalizes these words. She writes her objective for the book, “This book will … question the binary between known and unknown, internal and external, seen and unseen, as well as masculine and feminine. Pragmatic aspects of subjectivity and