Roger,
The alternative is to grant select any table to that user. Someday an auditor will probably tell your boss you're incompetent, but take that as a badge of honor.
If you are really serious about this, Asktom provides a workaround: http://asktom.oracle.com/pls/ask/f?p=4950:8:::::F4950_P8_DISPLAYID:646423863863
Another thought is to use roles. Have a practice that whenever a new table is created, someone grants that table to the role. At least somebody has reviewed the grant, and it isn't "hidden".
Security is often the bane of convenience.