The Elements of Eloquence

Forsyth's approach to dissecting rhetorical devices is both playful and insightful. I'm curious what sparked the concept for this book and how he chose which examples to include.

The book made me see familiar phrases in a new light, but I wonder if others felt more conscious of their own word choices after reading.

Many of the techniques seem practical, but I'm wondering how effective they are outside of literary or rhetorical contexts. Has anyone tried using them in real conversations?