There was someone in a talk or podcast (damn, when can we get search engines for our memories?) who discussed the idea of creating physical tokens as representations of virtual objects or events. With the arrival of cheap 3D printers, there is now the possibility of making personalized tokens.
As for offered books, I think hardcovers will become the tokens; for example, for Cory Doctorow's With a Little Help (which I've never read), the hardcover edition comes with an SD card with the ebook and even a audiobook.
And the reality is that at least for me, only one in ten books or so actually have any meaning besides the content; most are just books I bought for myself for no special occasion, and I don't really benefit from the space they take.
As for offered books, I think hardcovers will become the tokens; for example, for Cory Doctorow's With a Little Help (which I've never read), the hardcover edition comes with an SD card with the ebook and even a audiobook.
And the reality is that at least for me, only one in ten books or so actually have any meaning besides the content; most are just books I bought for myself for no special occasion, and I don't really benefit from the space they take.